Staff Reports
The 2016 fall sports season at Douglas High School brought with it a number of successful storylines ranging from the Tiger football team's strong resurgence and the cross country program's continued stay among the elites in Northern Nevada to the volleyball squad's blistering run through the regional playoffs.
FOOTBALL
Douglas rode a punishing running game to its most successful campaign since 2011.
The Tigers, behind a physical line led by eventual all-region honorees Tahoma Smokey and Reagan Roberson and all-league selection Danny Rich, rolled up a total of 2,504 yards on the year, with Ryland DeSomber, Dawson Coman and Hunter Hickey accounting for the majority of the yardage.
The total was the largest Douglas has posted in a single season since joining the large-school classification the late 1970s.
Roberson, the Sierra League Defensive Player of the Year, led a resurgent Tiger defense as Douglas went 6-5 overall, 3-1 in Sierra League play and came up just short of a league title after pushing eventual regional champion Damonte Ranch to the final minute.
Douglas also claimed its first playoff win since 2011 and its first home playoff win since 2004.
While Douglas will be rebuilding its passing game after losing the region's top passer (Bryce James, 143 completions) and its three top receivers, the Tigers will have the luxury of bringing back one of its biggest and most experienced offensive lines in more than 10 years to pave the way for running backs Ryland DeSomber and Dawson Coman and H-backs Will Williams and Jack Overton.
The line returns all-league honorable mentions Tahoma Smokey, Cody Tackett-Lewis and Lineman of the Year candidate Danny Rich, along with Dawson Hughes, Guy Rogers and Ty Dodd.
"Our strength is up front," Douglas coach Ernie Monfiletto said. "You have to go back to maybe 1996 to find the equivalent size of what we're working with this year. It's a good, experienced group."
First-year varsity quarterback Hunter Hickey has been strong through August practices.
Hickey's top targets are expected to be Haydn Brown, Williams, Phillip Lopez, Nick Pedroza and Alex Harker and Coman along with Reagan Roberson, Michael Cobb and Brown rotating in at tight end.
Roberson, an All-Sierra League first-team linebacker last season and multi-year varsity starter, will anchor the defense.
Cody Tackett-Lewis is the starter at nose guard in the Tigers' 3-4 defensive scheme, with junior Albert Aiken expected to get playing time there as well.
Cody Freitas and Garrett Frankiewich are the starters at defensive end.
DeSomber and Greg Sanotsky are the front runners to start in the opposite inside linebacker spot with Michael Cobb, Dakota Lowden, Danny Rich and Hunter Simpson battling for time at the outside linebackers.
Safeties Brown and Kane Hoyopatubbi are set to build the core of the defensive backfield. Alex Harker will start at cornerback and the opposite cornerback is up for grabs between a number of players.
"We will be improved from where we were last year," Monfiletto said. "But it is a very competitive week. You have to be able to bring it every single week. There are no off-weeks. There is no let up in the schedule.
"We're excited to see what happens with this group."
8
2016 FALL SEASON RECAP
FALL SEASON COMES WITH SUCCESSES
Junior quarterback Hunter Hicket established himself as one of the top passers in the region during the season.
Another highlight came in the season opener, during which Douglas beat McQueen in overtime, and in the regular season finale when Douglas defeated rival Carson.
VOLLEYBALL
Led by the first-team All-Sierra League trio of Talyn Jackson, Isabelle Peterson and Anna Bertolone, Douglas put together an exciting run through the regional playoffs before eventually falling in a hard-fought regional championship match against Reno.
Douglas upended High Desert League champion Spanish Springs in the regional semifinals, coming back from an early deficit to advance to the regional title match and claim a ticket to the state tournament.
Douglas also picked up key wins during the year over McQueen, Carson and Galena.
Raychel Allen and Hailey Hughes earned second-team all-league honors and Sierra Sullivan earned an all-league honorable mention.
BOYS SOCCER
In a rebuilding year, the Tigers claimed a season sweep over Sierra League rival Bishop Manogue and defeated Reed.
Douglas also stuck close with rival Carson in the season finale, losing 1-0, and gave eventual regional champion Galena a close contest on the final weekend of the regular season.